Combined hinge and latch



Oct. 27, 1953 F. c. PHILLIPS 2, ,56

COMBINED HINGE AND LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1950 9?, INVENTOR Q4 FAE CFZHILLIPS 8 PMCD W ATTY Oct. 27, 1953 F. c. PHILLIPS COMBINED HINGE AND LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1950 PIC-3.5.

RS 0 DI TU L H WP C E A F Patented Oct. 27, 1953 COMBINED HINGE AND LATCH Fae C. Phillips, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 24, 1950, Serial No. 170,081

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved combined hinge and latch device and more particularly to a novel hinge and latch arrangement for automotive vehicle hood covers whereby the hood cover may be selectively raised or opened from either side of the hood body.

The prime objective of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of novel combined hinge and latch units or devices positioned in pairs along each side of the vehicle hood body to latch the hood cover to the hood body. Each pair of units is adapted to lock one side of the hood cover to the hood body. The units positioned on either side of the hood body may be actuated externally of the vehicle to unlock the side of the hood cover associated with the particular units unlocked whereby the units on the opposite locked side function as a hinge to allow the hood cover to be raised or swung to an open position.

Another object is the provision of an automobile hood cover hinge and latch arrangement for permitting quick and ready removal of the cover from the hood body.

A further object is to provide a hinge and latch arrangement for automobile hood covers of the type capable of being opened from either side of the vehicle which is inexpensive to manufacture because of the simplicity of its design and construction.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention together with many of its purposes and uses thereof will become readily apparent from a reading of the ensuing description in conjunction with the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the vehicle hood cover and a portion of the hood body showing the hood cover in its closed position. The dotted lines represent the hood cover in its open or raised positions.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side elevational view in detail of a pair of hinge and latch units positioned along one side of the interior of the hood body.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the combined hinge and latch units showing the hood cover in its raised or open position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the hood cover in its lowered or closed position; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in which like refer- .ence characters designate like element throughout the various views, there is shown a vehicle hood cover It having an inverted U-shaped contour as best shown in Fig. 1. The opposite side portions of the hood cover It! indicated by numerals II and I2 have an inwardly projecting flange I3 formed on their marginal edges.

The hood body or fender continuation I I partially shown in the drawings has an inclined seating surface I5 which is substantially parallel to the flange I3 when the hood cover I0 is in its closed position. Sealing material such as weather stripping (not shown) is fastened to the surface I 5 or flange I3. In the closed or lowered position of the hood cover as best shown in Fig. 1 the surface I5 and flanges I3 approach an abutting engagement. The sealing material (not shown) interposed between the surface I5 and the flanges I3 completes a tight water-proof juncture between the hood cover II] and the hood body I4.

Positioned adjacent each side I I, I2 of the hood cover It are two longitudinally spaced identical combined hinge and latch units or devices designated generally by numeral I6. The units I6 positioned on one side are operable externally of the vehicle to an unlatched condition independently of the units located on the opposite side of the vehicle as will be explained hereinafter. Each unit I6 comprises an L-shaped supporting bracket I1 rigidly fastened within the hood body I 4. Rigidly connected to the vertically disposed leg I8 of the bracket I! is a substantially inverted L-shaped hinge member I9. A reinforcing plate is also secured to the leg I8 and is provided with a slot in its upper edge. The outwardly projecting portion 20 of the member l9 has an open end slot 2| out therein to form a pair of parallel spaced legs 22, as best shown in Figure 5. The ends 23 of the legs 22 are rolled over to receive and confine the ends of a pin 24. A second hinge member 25 has one end pivotally journaled on the pin 24 for vertical swinging movement relative to the hinge member I9. Referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that hinge member 25 extends through aligned apertures 26, 21 in the base of hinge member I9 and the vertically disposed portion I 8, respectively, the slot formed in the reinforcing plate, and an aperture formed in the hood body I 4 to permit upward swinging of the member 25 to the position shown in Fig. 3 which corresponds to the fully open position of the hood cover Ill. Aperture 26 constitutes an extension of slot 2|. The hinge member 25 is prevented from swinging further by coming in contact with the upper marginal edge 23 of aperture 2?. Downward movement of the hinge member 25 is limited by stop member attached to the hinge member l9 adjacent the lower marginal edge 30 of aperture 25. A helical torsion spring 3! carried on pin Ed has legs 32, 33 abutting hinge member 25 and portion 2d of hinge member it, respectively, to urge hinge member 25 upon stop member 29. The free end of hinge member 25 is provided with a substantially U-shaped keeper or hook portion Extending in opposite directions and projecting from the legs 36 and 3? of the keeper 35 are flanges The purpose of the flanges 38, 53 will be explained hereinafter. The outwardly projecting flange 39 is integrally joined with one leg of a substantially V-shaped portion 4! of the hinge member'flfi.

Rigidly fastened to the underside of the hood cover it is an L-shaped bracket 42 to which is attached the latch plate indicated generally by numeral .13. The latch plate 43 in the present invention has a channel-shaped section 64 with a flange portion 45 projecting substantially perpendicular from one of the leg portions 35 of the channel section as shown in Fig. 2. Will be noted that the latch plate 53 is secured to the bracket '32 along the web 4'! of the chan nel section 44. The portions 46, 4.8 depend downwardly and are provided with aligned apertures 43, 50. A latch bolt 51 slidably carried in the apertures 49, 55 is capable of having one end 52 move horizontally over flange portion 55. An opening 53 is formed in flange portion 45 to allow the projection of the keeper 35 through the flange portion 45. the foregoing description that keeper 35 is inserted in opening 53 and latch bolt 5| is moved horizontally whereby the end 52 projects through the keeper 35 and bridges the opening 53 to latch or look the hinge member to the latch plate 43. The flanges 33 and 39 on opposite sides of the keeper limit the vertical extension of the keeper through the latch plate 43 and tightly abut the underside of the flange portion 45. Thereafter it is necessary to retract the latch bolt 5| from the keeper 35 in order to unlock.

the hinge member 25 from the latch plate 43.

As stated hereinbefore, each side of the hood cover it is adapted to be unlocked by means of actuating mechanism operable externally of the vehicle. Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown the hinge and latch structure positioned on one side of the hood. It is to be understood that the opposite side of the hood is provided with like structure. Rotatably mounted on the hood cover IE! substantially midway between a pair of hinge and latch units It is an operating handle 54 which is conveniently operable externally of the vehicle. The handle 54 is connected to a shaft 55 projecting through the hood cover H! which in turn is attached to a plate 56 having a pair of radially extending arms 51, 58. Arched links 59 and so each have one end 6!, 62 pivotally attached to one end of one of the latch bolts 5| and their opposite ends 63, 64 pivotally attached to either arm 51 or 58. It Will be evident that rotation of the handle 54 slide the latch bolts 5! simultaneously through the medium of links 59 and 6G. The links 59, 69 are made of resilient spring stock and are arched to provide a tight connection between the handle 54 and the latch bolts 5| to prevent rattling of the parts.

The full lines of Fig. 1 show the hood cover It! in its closed or lowered position, which posi- It will be appreciated from tion is maintained by means of the hinge and latch units 15. When it is desired to swing the hood cover ID to its open position from the right side of the vehicle as viewed in Fig. 1 the handle 54 mounted on the right side of the hood cover [0 is grasped by the operator and rotated, causing latch bolts 5| associated with the units [6 on the right side to become disengaged from their mating keepers 35. The cover is then swung counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 to the open position designated by letter O. During the swinging movement of the cover ill the hinge members 25 associated with the hinge and latch units It at the left side of the hood cover I!) remain locked to their respective latch plate 43. The hood cover l0 being rigidly attached to the'left side latch plates 43 which in turn are locked or latched to the left side hinge members 25 pivots about a horizontal axis through pins 24. Any suitable supporting means (not shown) may be employed for maintaining the hood cove H3 in its raised position 0.

The hood cover I0 is closed by swinging it clockwise downwardly until the flange portions 45 of the right side latch plates 43 abut the flanges 3B and 39 of the hinge members 25,'at which time the right side keepers 35 project through the flange portions 45. The right side handle 54 is then rotated to move the latch bolts through the hook shaped keepers.

When it is desired to open the hood cover ill from the left side of the vehicle the procedure described above is followed except that the left side handle is rotated to unlatch left side hinge and latch units I6 and the right side hinge and latch units l6 provide the pivotal connection of the hood cover It with the hood body I 4. The entire hood cover I0 may be removed from the hood body I4 by rotating both handles 54 to retract all the latch bolts 5| from their respective keepers 35.

The embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration and description herein is that preferred as a result of selective tests based upon the requirements for achieving the objects of the invention and developing the utility thereof in the most desirable manner, due regard being had to existing factors of economy, simplicity of design and construction, production methods and the improvements sought to be effected. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the particular structural and functional aspects emphasized herein are not intended to exclude but rather to suggest such other adaptations and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automotive vehicle hood cover comprising a first hinge element adapted to be rigidly fastened to a hood bo y; a second hinge element pivotally connected at one end to said first hinge element for relative swinging movement, said second element having its free end provided with an inverted U-shaped keeper; a channel-shaped latch plate adapted to be rigidly fastened to said hood cover along the web of the channel, said plate having a flange projecting from one of the leg portions of said channel provided with an aperture for receiving said keeper; a latch bolt slidably carried by the leg portions of said channel adapted to slide into latching engagement with said keeper when said keeper is positioned Within said aperture of said flange to releasably lock said hood cover to said hood body; and means operable externally of the vehicle for unlocking said hood cover including an arched link pivotally connected to said latch bolt.

2. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automobile vehicle hood cover comprising a first hinge element adapted to be rigidly fastened to a hood body; a second hinge element pivotally connected at one end to said first hinge element for relative vertical swinging movement, said second element having a vertically offset hook portion; a latch plate adapted to be rigidly fastened to said hood cover, said plate having a first portion thereof provided with an aperture for receiving said hook portion and asecond portion disposed normally to said first portion; a latch bolt carried by said second portion of said latch plate for reciprocating movement, said latch bolt being adapted to project through said hook portion when said hook portion is received in said aperture to releasably lock said hood cover to said hood body; and means operable externally of the vehicle for unlocking said hood cover including a link pivotally connected to said latch bolt.

3. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automobile vehicle hood cover comprising a hinge element adapted to be pivotally attached to a fixed portion of a vehicle body, said hinge element being swingable in a vertical plane and having an inverted U-shaped keeper at one end thereof; a latch plate adapted to be rigidly fastened to said hood cover, said latch plate having a channelshaped portion, one of the legs of said portion having a substantially perpendicular flange extending therefrom provided with an aperture for receiving said keeper whereby said keeper extends through said flange; a slidable latch bolt carried by said channel-shaped portion adapted to be moved into and out of latching engagement with said keeper to lock or unlock the hinge element and the latch plate when said keeper is positioned within said aperture; and releasable means operable externally of the vehicle for moving said latch bolt.

4. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automobile vehicle hood cover comprising a hinge element adapted to be pivotally attached to a fixed portion of a vehicle body, said hinge element being swingable in a vertical plane and having an inverted U-shaped keeper at one end thereof; a latch plate adapted to be rigidly fastened to said hood cover, said plate having a flange portion provided with a substantially horizontally disposed aperture for receiving said keeper whereby said keeper extends vertically through said flange portion and a second portion disposed normally to said flange portion; stop means positioned adjacent said keeper and carried by said hinge element to limit the vertical extension of the keeper within the aperture, said means including oppositely directed projections capable of spanning said aperture; a latch bolt carried by said second portion of said latch plate for reciprocating movement, said latch bolt being adapted to reciprocate into and out of latching engagement with said keeper to lock or unlock the hinge element and latch plate when said keeper is positioned within said aperture; and releasable means operable externally of the vehicle for sliding said latch bolt.

5. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automotive vehicle hood cover comprising a first hinge element adapted to be rigidly fastened to a hood body; a second hinge element pivotally connected at one end to said first hinge element for relative swinging movement, said second hinge element having its free end provided with an inverted U-shaped keeper; stop means oooperable with said second hinge element to limit the swinging movement of said second hinge element between a lowered position and a raised position; resilient means for yieldably urging said second hinge element to said lowered position; a channel-shaped latch plate rigidly fastened to said hood cover along the web of the channel, said plate having a flange projecting from one of the leg portions of said channel provided with an aperture for receiving said keeper; a latch b'olt slidably carried by the leg portions of said channel adapted to slide into latching engagement with said keeper when said keeper ispositioned within said aperture of said flange to releasably lock said hood cover to said hood body; and means operable externally of the vehicle for unlocking said hood cover including an arched link pivotally connected to said latch bolt.

6. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automotive vehicle hood cover comprising a first hinge element adapted to be rigidly fastened to a hood body; a second hinge element pivotally connected at one end to said first hinge element for relative vertical swinging movement, said second hinge element having a vertically offset hook portion; stop means cooperable with said second hinge element to limit the swinging movement of said second hinge element between a lowered position and a raised position; resilient means for yieldably urging said second hinge element to said lowered position; a latch plate adapted to be rigidly fastened to said hood cover, said plate having a first portion thereof provided with an aperture for receiving said hook portion and a second portion disposed normally to said first portion; a latch bolt slidably carried by said second portion of said latch plate adapted to project through said hook portion when said hook portion is received in said aperture to releasably lock said hood cover to said hood body; and means operable externally of the vehicle for unlocking said hood cover including means pivotally connected to said latch bolt.

7. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automotive vehicle hood cover comprising a hinge element adapted to be pivotally attached to a fixed portion of a vehicle body, said hinge element being swingable in a vertical plane and having an inverted U-shaped keeper at one end thereof; stop means cooperable with said hinge element to limit the swinging movement of said element between a lowered position and a raised position; resilient means for yieldably urging said hinge element to said lowered position; a latch plate having a channel-shaped portion, one of the legs of said portion having a substantially perpendicular flange extending therefrom provided with an aperture for receiving said keeper whereby said keeper extends through said flange; a slidable latch bolt carried by said channel-shaped portion adapted to be moved into and out of latching engagement with. said keeper to lock or unlock the hinge element and the latch plate when said keeper is positioned within said aperture; and releasable means operable externally of the vehicle for moving said latch bolt.

8. A combined hinge and latch unit for an automobile vehicle hood cover comprising a hinge element adapted to be pivotally attached to a fixed portion of a vehicle body, said hinge element being swingable in a vertical plane and were having arr-inverted U-shapedl eeper at one end thereof; a pair of stop means for limiting the swinging movement of said hinge element; resilient means for yieldably urging said hinge element toward one of said stop means; a latch plate adapted to be rigidly fastened to said hood cover, said plate having a flange portion for receiving said keeper whereby said keeper extends vertically through said flange portion; additional stop means positioned adjacent said keeper and carried by said hinge element to limit the vertical extention of the keeper within the aperture, said means including oppositely directed projections capable of spanning said aperture;

a slidable latch bolt carried by said latch plate 1,

ment and latch plate when said keeper is psi-- sitioned within said aperture; and releasable means operable externally of the vehicle for sliding said latch bolt.

FAE C. PHILLIPS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 908,941 Boswell Jan. 5, 1909 1,534,467 Shea Apr. 21, 1925 2,246,792 Dall l l June 24, 1941 2,282,884 Ragsdale et a1. May 12, 1942 2,296,424 Claud-Mantle Sept. 22, 1942 2,311,965 Reynolds Feb. 23, 1943 

